Maintainers-Do you eat just to reach your goal?

lporter229
lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
in Goal: Maintaining Weight
The past few nights I have come up significantly under my calorie goal at the end of the night. I am not hungry, but find myself searching around the house for things to eat, just to come close to my goal. I know I have seen countless posts on this on the weight loss forums, but I am wondering about those of you in maintenance. Does this happen to you? Do you eat, or just let it go? I have eaten ice cream, avocados etc. to try and cram in the calories, but I am wondering if I would just be better off not eating and saving those calories for another day when I am truly hungry. What are your thoughts?
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Replies

  • sunglasses_and_ocean_waves
    sunglasses_and_ocean_waves Posts: 2,757 Member
    Once I went into maintenance, I just ate the same stuff but maybe a little more. For some, it takes a while to find the right balance. Frankly, I would not keep eating.
  • tennileb
    tennileb Posts: 265 Member
    I'm struggling to get the balance right. I've tried eating at mfp's suggested maintaince level and i gain.
  • emjaycazz
    emjaycazz Posts: 330 Member
    It depends on what I did that day and what I plan on doing the next day--if I lifted, I would grab something with extra protein (and if I plan on doing a HIIT workout the next morning, etc. I would try and fit in a complex carb). Either that or just grab some ice cream....mmmm.....
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    This is why I eventually stopped logging all together (have been maintaining for over 1.5 years). Some days I am hungrier than others. By nature, my body doesn't want 1800 calories a day, every day. I logged and maintained for about a year and then finally stopped. I got to the point where I knew what I should eat, how much of it, etc. Some days I know I am under and other days I know I am over. If over the course of a week it balances out, I wouldn't sweat it. Listening to your body is more important than hitting a specific number every day. I wouldn't give that advice to someone just starting out but at this point in the game, absolutely follow your own hunger instincts.
  • thesophierose
    thesophierose Posts: 754 Member
    It takes some time for your body to get used to more food after dieting for so long. Treats are fine, but the wrong foods aren't so good for your body. Try more calorie dense foods? Avocado is great!! More nuts, PB, calorie dense foods like rice, sweet potatoes... etc. You've got this. If you aren't hungry don't eat, but if you are then eat. You'll find your balance.
  • GymRatGirl13
    GymRatGirl13 Posts: 157 Member
    This is why I eventually stopped logging all together (have been maintaining for over 1.5 years). Some days I am hungrier than others. By nature, my body doesn't want 1800 calories a day, every day. I logged and maintained for about a year and then finally stopped. I got to the point where I knew what I should eat, how much of it, etc. Some days I know I am under and other days I know I am over. If over the course of a week it balances out, I wouldn't sweat it. Listening to your body is more important than hitting a specific number every day. I wouldn't give that advice to someone just starting out but at this point in the game, absolutely follow your own hunger instincts.

    ^^^ This!
  • pteryndactyl
    pteryndactyl Posts: 303 Member
    No, because I find that it generally evens out throughout the course of the week -- e.g. a quick look at my numbers for the past week have me eating anywhere from 1300-2100. Averaged out over the course of seven days has me at ~1800 per day.

    If you're still losing weight, you might need to make a conscious effort to eat more (or higher calorie) foods earlier in the day so you don't feel like you're stuffing food down your throat each night.
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,078 Member
    I find I naturally yo yo. I might eat 1500 cals one day, 2300 another etc it seems to balance out very well.
  • iechick
    iechick Posts: 352 Member
    This is why I eventually stopped logging all together (have been maintaining for over 1.5 years). Some days I am hungrier than others. By nature, my body doesn't want 1800 calories a day, every day. I logged and maintained for about a year and then finally stopped. I got to the point where I knew what I should eat, how much of it, etc. Some days I know I am under and other days I know I am over. If over the course of a week it balances out, I wouldn't sweat it. Listening to your body is more important than hitting a specific number every day. I wouldn't give that advice to someone just starting out but at this point in the game, absolutely follow your own hunger instincts.

    This exactly! I no longer tracker/count anything and I know some days I eat less calories and then others I eat over my maintenance number. It does even out though and I am maintaining effortlessly in a three pound window (that my body chose).
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    I don't. I upped my calories by 250 when I got a few pounds under my goal weight, but had been losing only a pound a month for a few months before that. I use a fitbit include that in my 'goal' calories. I'll happily eat those calories if I'm hungry.

    I find that my appetite goes up and down with the weather and my exercise. Over a week I'll be under almost every day but be over by 50 or so one or two days. My weight is completely stable right now, so this seems like a good place for me.

    As Fall has hit I find I'm getting closer and closer to my goal. I always get hungry when it's cold.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    This is why I eventually stopped logging all together (have been maintaining for over 1.5 years). Some days I am hungrier than others. By nature, my body doesn't want 1800 calories a day, every day. I logged and maintained for about a year and then finally stopped. I got to the point where I knew what I should eat, how much of it, etc. Some days I know I am under and other days I know I am over. If over the course of a week it balances out, I wouldn't sweat it. Listening to your body is more important than hitting a specific number every day. I wouldn't give that advice to someone just starting out but at this point in the game, absolutely follow your own hunger instincts.

    This exactly! I no longer tracker/count anything and I know some days I eat less calories and then others I eat over my maintenance number. It does even out though and I am maintaining effortlessly in a three pound window (that my body chose).

    It's funny how people are different. That's why I DO log. I eat what I eat and watch the weekly average on my iPhone app. That way I know I don't have to worry about eating too much one day because I know I've been under another and the week will come out fine.
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    Although I don't believe you have to be meet known energy needs on a daily basis, it's recommended to aim to do so weekly. How closely you monitor intake also depends on whether or not hunger hormones have changed significantly because of prolonged calorie restriction. In a lot of studies on VLCDs, it's common for people to exhibit very drastic reductions in leptin and sometimes elevated ghrelin. The result is that such persons may either not feel hungry even if they fall quite short or not satiated despite consuming considerably more than their TDEE. Thus, for people who have compromised hunger and satiety response, they may need to be a bit more stringent in monitoring intake from a day-to-day basis to ensure adequate energy balance.
  • nomorepizza2
    nomorepizza2 Posts: 85 Member
    Nah, I'm still logging so If I've saved up loads of calories during the week, I'll defo use them over the weekend!
  • WonderCort
    WonderCort Posts: 123 Member
    Nah, I'm still logging so If I've saved up loads of calories during the week, I'll defo use them over the weekend!

    I agree. This is where I am at with that too.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    I'm more relaxed about the daily calorie goal now and will balance things out depending on social events, exercise etc.
    I prefer to enjoy a social event or special meal one day and go over but the same applies when I have big exercise burns - I don't feel compelled to eat them all back the same day.

    Do agree that there appears to be a "natural" number that easily fits personal eating habits - for me 2000 net (approx 2700 total) feels somehow right but 2300 net (approx 3000 total) feels like I'm over-eating just to hit a goal number.
  • Boogage
    Boogage Posts: 739 Member
    I know how you feel. I'm trying to move up to maintenance but am finding increased calories a chore. I often end up stuffing myself at the end of the night and feel sick. I was netting really low most days over the last few months and have increased my cals by 150-550 a day. Its been a couple of weeks now and I'm finding that since I increased my carb limit it is easier to meet my cals goal. I haven't gained any weight eating more carbs and cals, I've actually lost a 1lb 1/2 this week.
  • pkw58
    pkw58 Posts: 2,038 Member
    I do just eat to maintain the minimum calories before exercise deduct every day. But I plan for it. I know when I am going to have a big meal or if I am ordering a meal out of dinner, I order dense calories. Like extra side of avocado to make sure I get that minimum for the goal of the week. If I am over my target weight from the previous weekly average weigh in, I eat for 1/2 a pound weight loss each day, if I was under my target, I eat the maintenance calories at least or add 100 calories at least each day.

    I log because it is comforting to me and many studies point to logging be a key component to maintaing a healthy weight. Also, if I wake up out of sorts I look back to what I ate the day before to see if something is causing water retention or dehydration.

    When I "up calories" I try to up them at breakfast and lunch. I don't sleep well eating a bunch of calories at dinner.
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    Although I don't believe you have to be meet known energy needs on a daily basis, it's recommended to aim to do so weekly. How closely you monitor intake also depends on whether or not hunger hormones have changed significantly because of prolonged calorie restriction. In a lot of studies on VLCDs, it's common for people to exhibit very drastic reductions in leptin and sometimes elevated ghrelin. The result is that such persons may either not feel hungry even if they fall quite short or not satiated despite consuming considerably more than their TDEE. Thus, for people who have compromised hunger and satiety response, they may need to be a bit more stringent in monitoring intake from a day-to-day basis to ensure adequate energy balance.

    This is interesting. Most of my weight loss occurred during marathon training, at which time I was eating a lot of calories, but burning even more. Would this have the same effect as a VLCD?
  • VelvetMorning
    VelvetMorning Posts: 398 Member
    I eat what I ate when I was losing weight in larger quantities with more healthy selections. When I'm at 105 to the lighter end of 107, I don't sweat it. When I'm 108, I cut back for a day or two until I'm back at 105-106, repeat.
  • summer8it
    summer8it Posts: 433 Member
    I've never eaten extra food just to get close to my calorie goal for the day, either when I was trying to lose weight or in maintenance. It gives me a bit of a cushion to splurge on other days without going over my weekly goal.

    If I'm really short on my protein goal, though, I will have something extra in order to boost that number up.
  • eating4me
    eating4me Posts: 239 Member
    Yes, I do find myself searching around for food to eat at night--too often, actually, but I know that if I don't at least consume what my maintenance is set at, I'll keep losing, and I don't want to do that. (I actually have lost even meeting my maintenance goals) It seems like all I'm doing is eating! Don't get me wrong, I love to eat, but I usually eat at least every 2 hrs, because I tend to get hypoglycemic if I don't, so I keep thinking I'll reach my goals before late night....but I often still have to scrounge around for something, and I sometimes don't feel hungry at all!! I keep thinking my weekend consumption should even it all out, but apparently I'm still not eating enough then, either! (I don't log weekends, usually.) So, I can definitely relate to what you're going through. I'm not sure about the solution, though.
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    If I'm not hungry, I don't eat. If I come up short, it will probably balance out something that I forget to log, or one day when I'm ravenous and go over my goal.
  • BluejayNY
    BluejayNY Posts: 301 Member
    No..I mostly log when I notice my weight fluctuating and I want to see how my calories in really look like lately. Some days I am naturally hungrier than other. When I pmsing, for instance, I tend to be ravenous. I pretty much watch the scale. If it gets too low then I eat more calorie dense food. If it gets too high then I choose less calorie dense food. I tend not to increase my amount of food all that much because if I get used to eating larger amounts I feel the reduction worse than if I had been eating the same but calorie dense.
  • tjthegreatone
    tjthegreatone Posts: 324
    The past few nights I have come up significantly under my calorie goal at the end of the night. I am not hungry, but find myself searching around the house for things to eat, just to come close to my goal. I know I have seen countless posts on this on the weight loss forums, but I am wondering about those of you in maintenance. Does this happen to you? Do you eat, or just let it go? I have eaten ice cream, avocados etc. to try and cram in the calories, but I am wondering if I would just be better off not eating and saving those calories for another day when I am truly hungry. What are your thoughts?

    This "not hungry" thing - je ne comprends pas. Do you workout loads and create a massive deficit?
    Otherwise it is not an issue for me - the opposite in fact. I graze all the time. I almost always go over my allowance.
    I never have to eat junk to reach my goals. In fact I'd happily eat 2000kcal in roast skinless chicken and veggies if you let me.
    But I'll say that if you really want to maintain then you either cut back on physical exertion or ram in the calories. Otherwise you'll continue to lose.
    Things I love that are calorie dense - natural peanut butter, all nuts, olive oil. I could easily sink a couple of thousand calories eating this stuff and it wouldn't touch the sides. I'd also go for full-fat milk, full-fat yoghurt etc.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    News flash...if you don't eat to a maintenance level of calories, you will not maintain...you're not in mainteancne if you continue to eat at a deficit...eating isn't hard...

    OP...my guess is you are probably lacking in dietary fat because fat is "bad" right? Eat more healthy fat...you don't have to stuff your face to up your calories. Again...eating is pretty flippin' easy...how the hell else did you get to the point of needing to diet?

    All that said, are you netting out throughout the week? It's not really a day to day thing...you can be under one day and over another, etc...it's all about making it work over a period of time, not just 24 hours. Just eat flippin' food.
  • dogladytwo
    dogladytwo Posts: 97 Member
    I added back a few calories on my daily food, but I splurge on the weekends (I just don't go overboard) so it all equals out in the end. I have been maintaining since May and think I have found a way to have my cake and eat it too! :)
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    News flash...if you don't eat to a maintenance level of calories, you will not maintain...you're not in mainteancne if you continue to eat at a deficit...eating isn't hard...

    OP...my guess is you are probably lacking in dietary fat because fat is "bad" right? Eat more healthy fat...you don't have to stuff your face to up your calories. Again...eating is pretty flippin' easy...how the hell else did you get to the point of needing to diet?

    All that said, are you netting out throughout the week? It's not really a day to day thing...you can be under one day and over another, etc...it's all about making it work over a period of time, not just 24 hours. Just eat flippin' food.

    I realize that if I do not eat my maintenance calories I will lose weight. This is exactly what I am getting at. I eat a ton of food...check out my diary. I do not have a "fat phobia". I eat plenty of fat. I am a small person. I weigh around 100 pounds, and actually would be ok with putting on a few. I currently have my calories set at 1900 calories, a lot for someone my size. And, yes, without eating foods that are going to make me feel like crap, sometimes I have a hard time reaching my goals. I was curious to see if others have this same problem and how they handle it. Obviously, based on the responses, I am not the only one.
  • Cinflo58
    Cinflo58 Posts: 326 Member
    I do not eat to get to goal because sometimes I go over goal and other days I eat less. SO it all balances out.
  • asaunders0923
    asaunders0923 Posts: 94
    This is why I eventually stopped logging all together (have been maintaining for over 1.5 years). Some days I am hungrier than others. By nature, my body doesn't want 1800 calories a day, every day. I logged and maintained for about a year and then finally stopped. I got to the point where I knew what I should eat, how much of it, etc. Some days I know I am under and other days I know I am over. If over the course of a week it balances out, I wouldn't sweat it. Listening to your body is more important than hitting a specific number every day. I wouldn't give that advice to someone just starting out but at this point in the game, absolutely follow your own hunger instincts.
  • asaunders0923
    asaunders0923 Posts: 94
    This is why I eventually stopped logging all together (have been maintaining for over 1.5 years). Some days I am hungrier than others. By nature, my body doesn't want 1800 calories a day, every day. I logged and maintained for about a year and then finally stopped. I got to the point where I knew what I should eat, how much of it, etc. Some days I know I am under and other days I know I am over. If over the course of a week it balances out, I wouldn't sweat it. Listening to your body is more important than hitting a specific number every day. I wouldn't give that advice to someone just starting out but at this point in the game, absolutely follow your own hunger instincts.


    I completely agree with the above... I have maintained a 70 lb. weight loss for about 9 years and I cannot eat what they say I need to in order to maintain. After a period of time you will know what triggers your body to gain weight and what triggers your cravings. I definitely wouldn't eat if I wasn't hungry... most people under estimate their caloric intake anyway. You may not put the correct serving size, etc. I also know that if I eat carbs I will gain weight.. no matter how many calories I eat.. that's just how my body works. So, you will need to be mindful of what you eat and record your weight to determine what your triggers are. Eventually it will all become habit and it will be easy... BUT know that if you start eating bad foods.. 1. You will get major cravings and 2. You will probably start gaining weight back. I believe about 95% of people gain the weight back they lost, so it's not easy, but it is doable and it is worth it!

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